On June 3, 1839, Lin Zexu ordered the public destruction of opium at Humen Beach, which lasted for 23 days until June 25, destroying 19,187 boxes and 2,119 bags of opium, with a total weight of 2376254 kilograms. The "Humen Gun Smoke" was a major event in Chinese history, which later became the fuse of the First Opium War, and the "Opium War" that began in 1840 was determined by historians as the beginning of China's modern history. In fact, if Tao Shu had lived for a few more years, then the Daoguang Emperor would probably not have sent Lin Zexu to Guangdong, but Tao Shu, who was then the governor of Liangjiang, and Tao Shu was the first able minister of the Daoguang Dynasty, with tact and flexibility, and was the first person to be used by the world.
Tao Shu was born poor, and his hometown of Xiaoyan Town, about 40 kilometers away from The county seat of Anhua, is a remote place in a poor village. Tao Shu was smart and studious from an early age, and began to chop firewood, herd cattle and fish at the age of five or six, but he "ploughed and read", always read books, and after a while he was addicted to reading at the first opportunity, and under the shade of trees and stones were his excellent natural study. Tao Shu was able to write eight strands of literature at the age of eleven, and at the age of twelve, he was able to write eight strands of literature, which has shown many outstanding points. The father saw that his son was so good at reading, and finally agreed to let Tao Shu go to the local private school Mizuki-an to study.
In the Zi River, which is not far from Shuiyue'an, there is a block of about two zhang in length and width, and about two zhang in length and width, and about two zhangs protruding from the river surface, and the square is like a seal, which is the yinxin stone. Tao Shu liked to lie on this inshin stone and read books, so he named the study of Mizuki-an "Inshin Stone House".
It is said that this seal stone is known locally as the "official seal", which can rise and fall with the river, and the water around it will never be submerged. There are three large mountains near the shore of the Yinxin Stone, commonly known as Jigong Mountain, Centipede Mountain, and Shrimp Gong Mountain, and the mountain corners all extend to the riverside, showing the trend of "three gong grabbing the seal". Chicken cocks are land animals and are not allowed to go into the water; centipedes can enter the water, but they need to prevent the chickens from eating and dare not enter the water; only the shrimp males can take advantage of the opportunity and finally go into the water to grab the official seal. Tao Shu lived under the Shrimp Gong Mountain, and was later rumored by the local people to be the embodiment of the Shrimp Gong Jing, so the official seal was also obtained by Tao Shu. Lin Zexu once gave a poem to Tao Shu: "The stone is the seal of the heart is the seal, and the stars before death have been chested."
Tao Shu was diligent and easy to read, 23 years old in the township examination, 25 years old in the temple examination in the jinshi, 28 years old to teach Hanlin editing, in 1820 (Jiaqing twenty-five years), 43 years old Tao Shu served as the eastern Sichuan bingbei dao, the then governor of Sichuan played Tao Shu "the first in Sichuan, can be competent."
The Daoguang Emperor's admiration for Tao Shu actually began with disgust and doubt. As early as 1822, when Tao Shu was serving as an envoy to Anhui Province, he vigorously played the situation of dereliction of duty and corruption in the official field at that time, and bluntly talked about a certain official. The Daoguang Emperor did not know much about Tao Shu's ill and vicious and straightforward personality, and felt that Tao Shu was fighting against others to elevate himself, and he was very disgusted in his heart, so he issued a secret edict to the Inspector of Anhui to pay attention to Tao Shu as a person. In less than a year, the Daoguang Emperor learned from many aspects that Tao Shu was honest and honest, had the courage to do things, was talented, and just, and was "a member of the imperial court who could not be entrusted." Since then, the Daoguang Emperor's trust in Tao Shu has increased unabated.
In 1831 (the eleventh year of Daoguang), Tao Shu, who was the governor of Liangjiang, broke the Qing Dynasty practice and then merged with the Lianghuai salt government, and in September, for his meritorious work in sorting out salt affairs and suppressing bandits, he was praised by the Daoguang Emperor as a "good minister of the dry country". With the support of the Daoguang Emperor, Tao Shu carried out a series of reforms in salt affairs, river management, currency system, disaster relief, coastal defense, etc., with remarkable results, and was unanimously praised and affirmed by the emperor and the people. In the winter of 1835, the 58-year-old Tao Shu entered the capital to meet the Daoguang Emperor because of his outstanding political achievements. From November 25 to December 16, the Daoguang Emperor summoned Tao Shuda 14 times and personally presented the plaque of "Yinxin Stone House".
Tao Shu made remarkable achievements in his political achievements during his tenure as governor of Liangjiang, and he and Lin Zexu worked together in Liangjiang for many years and formed a deep friendship, and the two of them worked together to control water disaster relief, try out sea water, smoke-free coastal defense, reform the salt administration, the currency system, and the township test, and skillfully borrowed the strength of merchants to complete the reform, making great contributions to the economic reform, production development, and social stability in the Jiangnan region. Tao Shu is Lin Zexu's long-term leader, and Lin Zexu has also benefited a lot.
In 1839, Tao Shu died in liangjiang, and Lin Zexu was transferred to the governor of Liangguang. Lin Zexu made a bang: "Generously lead Jianghuai, spoil Xu forget, and the beauty is finally determined by public opinion; the former type of heavy mountain fighting, step towards the same, the testament is ashamed to replace the period." The words also expressed their firm determination to inherit Tao Shu's cause.
In 1840, the Opium War began, "Wen Yi was neither, Nor did Lin Wenzhong follow him, ruling both inside and thinking about it outside." Lin Zexu inherited and developed Tao Shu's cause, implemented internal reforms, and resisted aggression externally, and Tao and Lin "saw the same thing." Tao Shu's firm stand of opposing aggression, banning opium, and setting up coastal defense was carried forward in Lin Zexu. Lin Zexu has become a prominent figure in China's modern history, and Tao Shu's early death, in the era of calling for heroes, has made China, which is worried about internal and external troubles, has one less loyal and good minister who is loyal to the country and is not afraid of power.
However, if we go to Tao Shu, where Guangdong is non-smoking, then according to Tao Shu's style of administration, "smoking ban" should be more practical and euphemistic, or the occurrence of the "Opium War" may be avoided, then China's modern history may be rewritten.
This article is adapted from Chen Ningjun and Xinchen's "Declassifying the Presidential Palace"